Adam James Hammill (born 25 January 1988) is an English footballer who plays as a winger for Maghull. Hammill represented England U21s, though he also qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland at international level.
Hammill is a product of the Liverpool academy, but failed to make a league appearance for the club at senior level, before leaving to join Championship side Barnsley in 2009. After a successful period at Barnsley, he entered the Premier League when he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2011, with whom he remained until 2013.
In 2015, Hammill returned to Barnsley on a short-term contract but remained until 2018.
Club career
Liverpool
Hammill was born in Liverpool and was a member of the Youth Academy at Liverpool since he joined the club at age nine. After appearing for the youth and reserves teams, he was promoted to Melwood on a full-time basis. He was part of the Liverpool team that defeated Manchester City in the 2006 FA Youth Cup final. While at the academy, Hammill initially played as an attacking midfielder and striker. But he turned "around 14 or 15", Hammill converted to a winger after being convinced by Academy Manager Steve Heighway, a position both he and Heighway, himself, played today.
In January 2007, he got his first taste of senior football when he was loaned to Scottish side Dunfermline Athletic until the end of the season. He played eighteen games for Dunfermline, including the Scottish Cup final, and scored once against Celtic. After his loan spell at Dunfermline Athletic came to an end, Hammill stated playing in Scotland benefited him, due to playing in the final and more first team opportunity.
He spent the 2007–08 season on loan at Championship side Southampton. Hammill hoped joining Southampton could benefit him for first team experience, as well as making a breakthrough. While in his first two months at Southampton, Hammill signed a three-year contract with his parent club, Liverpool, keeping him until 2011. Hammill made his Southampton debut, where he came on as a substitute for Jhon Viáfara, in the 63rd minute, in a 4–1 loss against Crystal Palace. By November, Hammill made two starts and came on from the substitute bench six times, and as a result he was sent to the reserves or remained on the substitute bench. Having regained his first team place, Hammill then provided two assists for the club, as Southampton beat Hull City 4– 0 on 8 December 2007. Throughout the season, Hammill remained in the first team spotlight at Southampton, as he made 28 appearances in total.
Returning to Anfield, he signed a new five-year contract with Liverpool in July 2008, before being sent out on loan for a sixth time; joining Blackpool in a six-month deal. He made his debut for the Seasiders on 9 August 2008, where he played 90 minutes in a 1–0 home defeat to Bristol City. In the next game against Norwich City on 16 August 2008, Hammill won a penalty in the 55th minute, which Ben Burgess successfully converted, in a 1–1 draw. He scored his first goal in English football for the Seasiders on 16 November in the West Lancashire derby 3–1 home defeat to Preston. After a successful loan spell he returned to Liverpool on 30 December, where Rafael Benítez would decide whether or not Hammill would return to Bloomfield Road despite keen on using him in the Liverpool first team.
Barnsley
He did have a second loan deal during the 2008–09 season, but it was instead with Barnsley, whom he joined in February 2009 for the remainder of the campaign. Hammill made his Barnsley debut in his first spell on 17 February 2009, where he came on as a substitute for Andranik Teymourian in the 80th minute, in a 1–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday. Having become a first team regular throughout the season, Hammill scored his first Barnsley goal whilst on loan, in the last game of the season, in a 2–1 win over Plymouth Argyle. After the match, Hammill returned to his parent club.
Following his loan spell at Oakwell in Spring 2009, Barnsley launched a bid which was turned down as Liverpool wanted to see what Hammill could offer during pre-season. However, Hammill remained out of the Liverpool first team after yet being given a squad number despite playing in a friendly match, which he scored. Barnsley then made a second bid, which Liverpool, this time, accepted and Hammill signed a three-year contract on 10 August 2009. Though he has no regrets leaving Liverpool for Barnsley, Hammill, however, said Liverpool will forever be in his blood.